The appalling scandal of dogs being bought online and left to die

THIS month 8 female dogs were abandoned in a freezing field in Devon and left to die.

Rescue centres across Britain are overwhelmed by the numbers of unwanted pets

Found in an appalling condition, the terrified creatures were callously discarded after they were no longer of any use to puppy farmers having reached the end of their breeding life.

Each elderly dog had recently given birth to a litter of puppies, which were snatched away to be sold as Christmas presents.

The case, which thankfully had a happy ending due to Dogs Trust, is one of a growing number where animals are suffering at the hands of online sellers and buyers – and animal charities fear things are only going to get worse.

Abandoned Holly and Ivy, who was found with a missing eye and toes, are still looking for homes

This month alone the term “puppy for sale” has been Googled over 800,000 times and the limitless nature of the Internet means little can be done to monitor whether or not these animals are being bred and homed safely.

Rachel Cunningham, of animal charity Blue Cross, said: “Animal charities are currently inundated with ever-increasing numbers of unwanted animals, yet it is still possible for anyone to buy a pet online at the click of a mouse.

“This is even more of a concern around Christmas when people are even more likely to make a spur-of-the-moment decision to buy a pet as a present,” she added.

Just last week, a seriously ill cat was brought into Blue Cross by a 15-year-old boy who had bought the animal on online advertising site Gumtree without his mother’s knowledge just the day before.

The boy became concerned about the cat when it would not eat and began to have breathing difficulties.

Following an examination, vets found the cat was too ill to survive and it was euthanised.

Blue Cross veterinary surgeon Harriet Thomas, who treated the animal, said: “The cat was incredibly sick and should have been taken to a vet long before it got into this state.

“It’s shocking that someone would sell a cat in such a poor condition, especially to a minor without the consent of a parent.

“Sadly cases like this are not unusual – more and more regularly we are seeing pets that have been bought online that turn out to have serious health problems or behaviour issues.”

More and more regularly we are seeing pets that have been bought online that turn out to have serious health problems or behaviour issues

Blue Cross veterinary surgeon Harriet Thomas

Deceitful sellers are not the only concern for animal welfare groups, as animals also continue to be harmed after being bought online irresponsibly.

Earlier this year, 19?year?old Sean Deakin, from Wigan, Lancashire, was sentenced to 20 weeks in prison and banned from keeping animals for 10 years after hammering and stabbing his Staffordshire Bull Terrier Tyson to death before dumping his body in a wheelie bin.

He had bought Tyson off Gumtree just four days previously.

In 2001, the Pet Advertising Advisory Group (PAAG) was set up amid concerns that advertising was leading to impulses purchases and making it easy for negligent people to acquire a live animal.

Working with PAAG, Gumtree has implemented a new set of rules, pledging that animal welfare is “at the heart” of its pets category.

Following “extensive consultation” with animal charities the site claims to have reduced the number of live pet adverts from 70,000 to less than 15,000 in a year.

Additionally, sellers must now tick a box to confirm puppies are aged over eight weeks, and are not involved in animal abuse.

However, animal welfare campaigners have questioned how such conditions can be checked when all it takes is a user ticking a box, with no thorough vetting process.

Internet savvy users have also got wise to Gumtree’s word recognition screening, uploading adverts of illegal breeds such as pit bulls by avoiding the actual name of the breed.

Gumtree users have posted ads for illegal breeds, such as pit bulls, by avoiding search terms

Over the past few months there have even been examples of household items being exchanged for animals on the site.

David Ward from campaign group Get Gumtree Animal Free, said: “Online sites are a backyard breeders haven and a backwards step in the way animals are being treated.

“Selling animals through an automated system is completely unethical and morally unjustifiable,” added Mr Ward, who believes the Government should implement legislation to protect animals from being sold recklessly online.

He said: “If breeders are looking at a pile of cash instead of living creatures, why would an immoral person not think ‘this is a good way to make money’ – especially during an economic crisis?”

Users on Gumtree even looks to swap live animals for household items

Gumtree’s Head of Customer Services Luke Todd said: “We believe that by working alongside animal organisations we can continue to run our Pets category in a way that has animal welfare at its heart.

“We are looking to boost our consumer education through our charity partners, and would also welcome an update to the law around the sale of puppies.”

Nevertheless, advertisers such as Gumtree are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to sites promoting mail order pets, with many being are far less stringent over animals being sold by unscrupulous sellers.

As PAAG continues to encourage the Government to “clean up” the online pet industry, animal charities have issued a heartfelt plea to those hoping to gain a four-legged friend over the festive period.

Clarissa Baldwin, Dogs Trust CEO said: “It’s just too easy for people to buy online – it seems that people are still giving puppies as Christmas presents without considering the long term ramifications.

“Dogs can provide a world of happiness and enjoyment, and we urge anyone considering a new addition to the family to think it through properly and remember that the only place a puppy should be is on the outside of the wrapping paper, not inside it.”

Anyone interested in offering the abandoned dogs featured in this article a new home should call Dogs Trust Bridgend on 01656 725 219 or click here